The World of Music According to Starker

by Janos Starker

Overview

"Few cello players currently before the public have enjoyed the kind of international success in all conceivable musical career roles as Janos Starker. In his lifetime, Starker has gained renown as teacher, soloist and orchestra player." —Chicago Tribune

"Starker . . .remains one of the wonders of the musical world, an artist who finds innumerable ways to shape and color lines." —Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Starker is not just a cellist. He is widely recognized as one of the finest of the last 50 years." —Indianapolis Star

"Starker emerges here as the rare artist who respects the past but lives enthusiastically in the present. . . Essential. All readers; all levels." —Choice

Janos Starker is universally acknowledged as one of the world's great musicians. Known for a flawless technique paired with expressive playing and interpretation, the Hungarian-born cellist is arguably also the premier teacher of his instrument in our time. String players flock to his masterclasses from all over the world, and cellists compete vigorously to study under him at the Indiana University School of Music. More than the consummate musician, however, Starker is also a raconteur and writer, occasionally quirky and droll, always witty and with a pointed opinion to share.

The World of Music According to Starker is a colorful autobiography spanning the author's fascinating life. From his early musical education during World War II in Hungary, to his world tours, educational philosophy, and recording and pedagogical legacy, Starker takes the reader on a riveting, entertaining, and informative journey. Included in the book are several of Starker's short stories and commentaries on world events, academia, and—of course—music that have appeared in newspapers, music periodicals, and trade magazines.

Also includes a bonus CD recording of Starker's last public recital, which is unavailable commercially and includes his only recording of the Strauss Sonata in F, Opus 6.

Included on the CD:
Richard Strauss, Sonata in F, Opus 6
Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata in C major, Opus 102 no. 1
Johannes Brahms, Sonata in E minor, Opus 38
Franz Schubert, Sonatina in D, Opus 137 no. 1 (Starker edition)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253065391
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	08/23/2022
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	797,866
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Janos Starker (1924-2013) was Distinguished Professor of Cello in the School of Music at Indiana University. He held five honorary doctorates, and was a former principal cellist with the Metropolitan Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He made more than 100 commercial recordings and gave world premiere performances of countless recital works by important composers. Among his many awards and honors is the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Recording by a Soloist without Accompaniment for his recording of Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello.

Table of Contents

Epigraph
Dedication
PreludeScotch and Soda
AnacrusisAutobiography of a Stomach
CHungary
C# [short story to be selected]
DRomania, Austria and Switzerland
D#Mozart Meter
EFrance
FAmerica, Dallas
F#Soft Pitch For the Pit
GChicago
G#Africa
ABloomington Then
A#L'art pour l'art: Waldo Caper, 1926-1960
BBloomington Now
CTwilight at Tiffany's
Cadence Epilogue
PostludeThat Room at the Top
Appendix 1: "An Organized Method of String Playing"
Appendix 2: Lists of publications, recordings

Editorial Reviews

"The writing is relaxed; the cast of characters is awesome. Starker makes a fascinating centerpiece."—The Herald Times

"[Starker] looks back on his remarkable life in this detailed and eminently readable memoir. . . highly recommended."—Library Journal

From the Publisher

The writing is relaxed; the cast of characters is awesome. Starker makes a fascinating centerpiece.

The Herald Times

Starker, a Hungarian-born cellist, has had a long and distinguished career as a soloist, recording artist, and pedagog (he teaches at the University of Indiana). Now 80, he looks back on his remarkable life in this detailed and eminently readable memoir. So steeped is Starker in the music world that he identifies his chapters by ascending chromatic steps of the scale (e.g., C, C#, D) instead of numbers. These form a rough chronology, beginning with his harrowing years as a prisoner in a detention camp on an island in the Danube. Interspersed with the biographical sections are entertaining bits of prose that reveal other sides of Starker: a keen and witty observer of the human condition, a raconteur, an inventive satirist, and a man unafraid to air unconventional and, at times, politically incorrect beliefs. The exhaustive list of his recordings and editions attests to his indefatigable energy and passionate commitment to his art. As the only substantial biographical work on Starker, this is highly recommended. Larry Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, PA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal